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KIRCHHOFF’S LAW
KIRCHHOFF’S LAW
More comprehensive than Ohm’s Law and is used in solving electrical
Termed as “Laws of Electric Networks”
Formulated by German physicist Gustav Robert Kirchhoff
Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
“In any electrical network, the algebraic sum of the current
meeting at a point (or junction) is zero.”
NETWORK ANALYSIS
KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT LAW
In short the sum of currents entering a node equals the sum
of currents leaving the node
⁻ Current towards the node, positive current
⁻ Current away from the node, negative current
IB + IC + ID = IA
(IB + IC + ID) - IA = 0
NETWORK ANALYSIS
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW
Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
“The algebraic sum of the products of currents and resistances in
each of thr conductors in any closed path (or mesh) in a
network PLUS the algebraic sum of the emfs in the path is
zero.”
NETWORK ANALYSIS
KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW
In short, the sum of the voltages around the loop is equal to
zero
⁻ For voltage sources, if loops enters on minus and goes out on plus,
positive voltage and if loops enters on plus and goes out on minus,
negative voltage.
⁻ For voltage drops, if the loop direction is the same as current
direction, negative voltage drop and if the loop direction is opposite to
the current direction, positive voltage drop.
NETWORK ANALYSIS
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ELECTRICAL NETWORKS
PARTS
Node
A junction in a circuit where two or more circuit elements and/or
branches are connected together.
Branch
Part of a network which lies netween two junctions.
Loop
A closed path in a circuit in which no element or node is encountered
more than once.
Mesh
A loop that contains no other loop within it.
CIRCUITS AND NETWORKS
KIRCHHOFF’S CURRENT
LAW
• The algebraic sum of all the
currents entering and leaving
a junction is equal to zero.
• Another way of stating
Kirchhoff’s current law is: •
• The total current flowing
into a junction is equal to
the sum of the current
flowing out of that junction.
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KIRCHHOFF’S VOLTAGE LAW
• Kirchhoff’s second law is referred
to as Kirchhoff’s voltage law, and it
states: • The algebraic
sum of all the voltages around a
closed circuit equals zero.
• Another way of stating Kirchhoff’s
voltage law is:
• The sum of all the
voltage drops in a closed circuit
will equal the voltage source.
EXAMPLE
Apply Kirchhoff’s current law to solve for the unknown
current
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EXAMPLE
Apply Kirchhoff’s voltage law to solve for the voltages
EXAMPLE
Determine the values of the the current flowing
through each of the resistors.
The circuit has two
nodes (at A and
B). We have the
choice of choosing
only two of the
three loops shown
(blue). This is
because only two
of the loops are
independent.
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EXAMPLE
Determine the values of the the current flowing
through each of the resistors.
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EXAMPLE
Determine the values of the the current flowing
through each of the resistors.
